Sustainability

Sustainability is defined as that which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

In its 2013 Water Plan Update, DWR notes that “a sustainable system or process has longevity and resilience … manages risk but cannot eliminate it … generally provides for the economy, the ecosystem, and social equity.”

The Plan notes that “with a growing recognition that California’s water systems are over-allocated – and faced with climate change, growing population, and more stringent environmental requirements – decision-makers, water managers, and planners are becoming increasingly aware of the need to sustainably manage water and respond to changing availability and constraints on water.”